European Lawmakers Vote for Tougher Anti-Money-Laundering Rules

Bitcoin could be covered by new laws

BRUSSELS—European Union lawmakers voted Tuesday for tougher anti-money-laundering rules that would cover virtual currencies and prepaid cards as part of the bloc’s fight against terror financing and a broader clamp down on tax avoidance.

The vote advances a proposal put forward in July by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm. It would see the upper limit of nonreloadable prepaid cards lowered to €150 ($159) from €250 and...